Mail box signal device



Sept. 27, 1966 BQGUE MAIL BOX SIGNAL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed MarGh l, 1965 FIG.4

FIG. 2

FIG. I

I NVENTOR. LEONARD E. BOGUE ATTORNEYS Sept. 27, 1966 L. E. BOGUE 3,275,227

MAIL BOX SIGNAL DEVICE Filed March 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,275,227 MAIL BOX SIGNAL DEVICE Leonard E. Bogue, 18340 Cleveland Road, South Bend, Ind. Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,074 4 Claims. (Cl. 232-34) The present invention relates to a mail box signal device and more particularly to a device adapted to be secured to the box for assisting in signaling the presence of mail in the box, for warning vehicle drivers of the position of the box and support post, and for locating surrounding features.

Conventional rural mail boxes are normally either installed with the gray galvanized coating on the metal or are painted white, and are normally provided with a white or red flag for indicating the presence of mail in the box. These boxes are almost universally placed on the highway right-of-way, often relatively close to the pavement or driving lanes, and are sufliciently close to the lane that they may interfere with a vehicle pulling ofl? the pavement or to one side of the driving lane. When the boxes and the posts on which they are mounted are initially installed, they are readily visible to the vehicle drivers and hence do not cause any serious traflic hazard. However, the boxes and posts soon become covered with dust and dirt and become weather beaten to the extent that they are diflicult to see at night, particularly during rain and fog conditions, and become serious hazards to vehicle drivers. Further, the paint ultimately peels or is otherwise removed from the flag so that it is diflicult to observe at a distance whether or not the flag is in the position signaling the presence of mail in the box. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a device for use in conjunction with mail box flags, which renders the mail boxes readily visible at night and under most weather conditions, and which will maintain the visibility over long periods of time or for the life of the mail box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can be easily attached to the flags of any conventional mail boxes without the use of any tools or other equipment or with merely a pair of pliers or a screw driver, and which does not change the overall appearance or character of the flag or mail box, or the normal operation thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reflector-type attachment for a mail box flag which renders the box readily visible to vehicle drivers on the highway along which the box is located, and hence assists the postman to locate the box, and warns drivers on the highway of the presence of the box and its support post, thus eliminating the box and post as traflic hazards.

A further object is to provide an attachment for the flag of a mail box which assists vehicle drivers and pedestrians in locating the entrance to driveways, walks, culverts and the like, particularly at night, regardless of whether or not these features and the surrounding ground are covered with snow or ice.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforesaid type which is so constructed and designed that it eliminates the need for repeated painting of the flag to maintain satisfactory visibility thereof as a signal for indicating the presence or absence of mail in the box, and which permits the mailman to determine the position of the flag even during times of poor visibility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple signal and warning device for mail box flags which can be readily fabricated with standard equipment and tools, and which can be easily and quickly installed by 3,275,227 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 the average property owner without any special mechanical skill or know-how.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mail box with the present signaling device mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the present signaling device showing it mounted on the flag of a mail box;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the signaling device and flag shown in FIGURE 2, the section being taken on line 33 of the latter figure;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the flag and signaling device shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the section being taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational View of a modified form of the present signaling device, showing it detached from the mail box flag;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of the signaling device shown in FIGURE 5, the section being taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view of the signaling device shown in FIGURES 5 and 6;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of a further modified form of the present signaling device, showing it attached to the mail box flag; and

FIGURE 9 is a vertical cross sectional view of the signaling device shown in FIGURE 8, the section being taken on line 99 of the latter figure.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, numeral 10 designates a mail box, and 12 a post on which the mail box is mounted, the mail box being conventional in size, shape and design and having a door 14 pivoted on hinges 16 at the bottom thereof, and a flag 18 mounted on an arm 20 on the side of the box. The arm 20 of the flag is pivoted on a rivet or bolt 22 and is adapted to move from a horizontal position along the side of the mail box to the vertical position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the first position indicating the absence of mail in the box and the latter position indicating the presence of mail therein. The present signaling device 30 is shown mounted on flag 18 and is adapted to remain permanently thereon and to move with the flag between the two previously indicated positions. The foregoing mail box and post are normally placed along the side of the highway on the right-of-way thereof, and the flag is used as a signal to indicate the presence of mail in the box.

The present signaling device illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 consists of a front panel 32 of sheet material, preferably aluminum, and top and bottom flanges 34 and 36 and end flanges 38 and 40. When the device is fully installed, the four flanges embraces the edges of flag 18. extend inwardly over the rear side thereof, as illustrated in FIGURES 3, and firmly and permanently retain the device on the flag. A reflector unit 50 is mounted in or on front panel 32, the one shown being disc-shaped and composed of a transparent prismatic plate having a series of totally reflecting units on the back side thereof coated with a suitable reflecting material. The back side may be sealed to protect the reflecting surface. The transparent material is preferably red, but may be some other suitable, easily seen color such as amber, and is normally costructed of plastic; however, glass may be used. Since the construction of the reflecting unit 50 is Well known and has been extensively used, it will not be described in further detail herein.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 2 through 4, the reflecting unit is provided with a radially extending annular flange 54 and is retained in hole 56 of front panel 32 by an inwardly extending annular flange 58 surrounding hole 56. The reflecting unit may be cemented or taped into hole 56 with radial flange 54 seating firmly against the inner side of flange 58, thereby retaining the reflecting unit firmly in place until the device has been assembled on the flag, after which the flag will effectively retain the reflector in place. The flag prevents dislodgement of the reflector unit inwardly and the flange 58 prevents the removal of the unit .outwardly. A slot is provided at the lower edge of front panel 32 at numercal 60 in order to receive arm 20 when flag 18 is inserted in the device, as illustrated in the drawings.

When the signalling device shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 has been fabricated, flanges 34, 36, 38 and 40 are turned inwardly to the position illustrated in the drawings, and one or two of the flanges are positioned outwardly to permit the device to be readily assembled on the flag. For example, flanges 34, 36 and 40 may be bent inwardly to the position illustrated, and flange 38- extending outwardly. With the flanges in this position, the device can be assembled on the flag by slipping the device endwise on the flag starting on the end opposite arm 20, moving it into the position shown in FIGURE 2, and then folding flange 38 inwardly to the position illustrated, thus securing the device firmly and permanently on the flag with arm 20 extending downwardly through slot 60. It is seen that with the device in this position, the reflecting unit 50 can be readily seen when the flag is either in its lowered or raised position, and thereby forms an effective signal to indicate the presence or absence of mail in the box and the position of the box and post 12 relative to the edge of the road or driveway.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URE 5, an enclosure consists of. a front panel 72 and rear panel 74 joined by flanges 76 and 78 to form an envelope-type structure. The end of the device indicated by numeral 80 is initially closed and that indicated by numeral 82 is initially open and provided with a flange 84. A reflecting unit 86, the one shown being rectangular in shape and of a construction similar to unit 50, is secured in front panel 72 by an inner flange 88 on the reflector unit and an inwardly extending flange 90 around hole 92 in the front panel. The reflector unit may be held in place in the front panel by tape or cement and, if desired, sealed by another plate or other suitable backing material. After the unit is constructed in the foregoing manner, it is mounted on the flag of the mail box by slipping end 82 onto the free end of the flag until the free end is seated against mail box arm 20, which extends downwardly from the flag through openingv 94. After the signaling device has been assembled on the flag in the foregoing manner, flange 84 is bent inwardly and rearwardly around arm 20 and the adjacent portion of flag 18 to secure the device firmly and permanently on the flag.

A further modification of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9,, in which the unit consists of a reflector panel 100 covering the face of the flag and secured thereto by four tabs 104, 106, 108 and 110 joined to and forming a part of straps 112 and 114 on the back of the flag. The tabs are pulled firmly against the face of panel 100 by a screw 116 threaded through the two straps at their intersection. As the screw is tightened the inner end seats against the back of the flag as illustrated in FIGURE 9 and draws the tabs against the panel and the panel against the face of the flag. The reflector unit may have a backing plate secured thereto for sealing the reflecting surface, and be of different sizes and shapes. The tabs also may be of such a length that the device shown in FIGURE 8 may be secured to flags of various sizes.

While only three embodiments of the present invention '4 have been described in detail herein, various changes and modifications may be made to satisfy requirements.

I claim:

1. A signaling device for a mail box having a rectangular flag and a support arm therefor extending from the lower corner thereof, comprising a rectangularly-shaped front panel of aluminum being substantially the same size as the flag and having a round hole therethrough, a flange on the front edge of said hole around said hole, a reflector unit of glass with a radially extending flange means at the rear periphery thereof for engaging said first mentioned flange on the internal side thereof for retaining said reflector unit in said hole, flanges along three adjoining edges overlapping the rear side of said panel but spaced therefrom for embracing the respective edges of the flag, a flange extending outwardly from the fourth edge of said panel, and a notch means in one of said flanges adjacent said fourth edge corresponding in position to the flag support arm.

2. A signaling device for use with a mail box having a rectangular flag and a support arm therefor extending from the lower corner thereof, comprising a rectangularlyshaped front panel of metal having a hole therethrough, a flange means on the front edge of said hole, a reflector unit with a radially extending flange means at the rear periphery thereof for engaging said first mentioned flange on the internal side thereof for retaining said reflector unit in said hole, flanges along three adjoining edges overlapping the rear side of said panel but spaced therefrom for embracing the respective edges of the flag, a flange extending outwardly from the fourth edge of said panel and a notch means in one of said flanges adjacent said fourth edge corresponding in position to the flag support arm.

3. A signaling device for a mail box having a rectangular flag and a support arm therefor, comprising a front panel having a hole therethrough, a flange means on the front edge of said hole, a reflector unit with a radially extending flange means at the rear periphery thereof for engaging said first mentioned flange on the internal side thereof for retaining said reflector unit in said hole, flanges along three adjoining edges overlapping the rear side of said panel but spaced therefrom for embracing the respective edges of the flag, a flange extending outwardly from the fourth edge of said panel, and a notch means in one of said flanges adjacent said fourth edge corresponding in position to the flag support arm.

4. A signal-ing device for a mail box having a flag with a support arm, comprising a front panel having a hole therethrough, a reflector unit seated in said hole, a flange means on the edges of said panel for embracing the respective edges of the flag, and notch means along one of the panel edges for receiving said support arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,072,573 3/1937 Vigliotti 116173 2,093,620 9/1937 Roessler 40-209 2,193,747 3/1940 Thompson 1l6173 2,389,234 11/ 1945 Harrison 8897 2,428,423 10/1947 Hurban 23235 2,834,540 5/1958 Hudgins 232 -35 X 2,843,316 7/1958 Auger 232-34 2,889,981 6/1959 Hunt 23235 3,020,188 2/1962 Zompa 8897 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,827 1910 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

R. B. FARLEY, F. K. ZUGEL, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A SIGNALING DEVICE FOR A MAIL BOX HAVING A RECTANGULAR FLAG AND A SUPPORT ARM THEREOF EXTENDING FROM THE LOWER CORNER THEREOF, COMPRISING A RECTANGULARLY-SHAPED FRONT PANEL OF ALUMINUM BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE FLAG AND HAVING A ROUND HOLE THERETHROUGH, A FLANGE ON THE FRONT EDGE OF SAID HOLE AROUND SAID HOLE, A REFLECTOR UNIT OF GLASS WITH A RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE MEANS AT THE REAR PERIPHERY THEREOF FOR ENGAGING SAID FIRST MENTIONED FLANGE ON THE INTERNAL SIDE THEREOF FOR RETAINING SAID REFLECTOR UNIT IN SAID HOLE, FLANGES ALONG THREE ADJOINING EDGES OVERLAPPING THE REAR SIDE OF SAID PANEL BUT SPACED THEREFROM FOR EMBRACING THE RESPECTIE EDGES OF THE FLAG, A FLANGE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE FOURTH EDGE OF SAID PANEL, AND A NOTCH MEANS IN ONE OF SAID FLANGES ADJACENT SAID FOURTH EDGE CORRESPONDING IN POSITION OF THE FLAG SUPPORT ARM. 